Sack filling and closing machine.



- No. 659,024. Patented Get. 2, I900. E. w. GERBRACHT & J. R. OKELL.

SACK FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)

M g :INVENTORSI WH NESSESi 9. G im Am flw zg y BY w fof fizm m ATTOR N EY No. 659,024. Patented Oct. 2, I900. E. W. GERBRACHT & J. R. OKELL.

SACK FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Shset 2.

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY WITNESSES: 27 Gi a/Mina. V fd m ma Nmmls PETERS cu. mormumo" \vAsNmaToN. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST W. GERBRACHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND JOHN R. OKELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN SUGAR REFINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. -Y.

SACK FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 659,024, dated October 1900- Application filed March 22, 1900. Serial No. 9,814. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: less number of these arms, but eight we find Be it known that We, ERNST WILHELM GER- to be a convenient number. 'BRAOHT, residing at New York city, borough Mounted on the ends of the arms 11 are the of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New sack or bag holders 12. The sack or bag 5 York, and JOHN R. OKELL, residing at Philaholders are funnel-shaped and consist of two delphia. county of Philadelphia, State of parts, an inner fixed part 12 and an outer Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, movable part or fiap 12. Each part has an have invented certain new and useful I|nend and two sides, and the sides of the outer provements in Sack Filling and Closing Mapart 12 overlap the sides of theinner part 12. [O chines, of which the following is a specifica- The inner part 12 of each sack or bag holder tiou. is rigidly secured to one of the radial arms 11,

Our invention relates to an apparatus and the outer part 12 is pivoted at its top to which has for its purpose to rapidly fill sacks the inner part 12, so that the outer part 12 or bags of textile material with powdered or can swing inward toward and outward from :5 granular substances and to close such sacks the inner part 12. The sides of the outer or bags after they are filled. part 12 are cut away, as indicated by the Our invention further relates to various dotted lines at the left of Fig. 3, so as to perdetails of construction of the machine and its unit of the approach of the outer part 12 parts, all of which will be set forth in the Theinner part 12 of the sack or bag holder 20 specification and afterward pointed out in has its upper edge flared outwardly, and the the claims. lower edges of parts 12 and 12 are turned In the drawings similar numerals indicate outward to form projecting flanges 12, over like parts. which the mouth of the sack or bag is drawn Figure 1 is aplan view of a sack or bag fill and with which the material of the bag or 25 ing and closing machine constructed in acsack engages when the sack or bag holder is cordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a side expanded. elevation with a portion of the sack-carrier In order to increase the grip of the sack or and the machine-frame shown in section. bag holder upon the material at the mouth Fig. 3 is an end view with the sack-carrier of the sack or bag, the inner part 12 and the 30 in partial section lookingfrom the right of outer part 12 or both, of the sack or bag Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a porholder may, if desired, be provided with ribs, tion of the sewing-machine and thread-cutspurs, or teeth above the flanges 12, as shown ting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a at 12, Fig. 6. The sack or bag holder thus modification of the apparatus, showing a deforms a funnel whose lower end may be ex- 5 vice fordrawing the tops of the filled sacks or panded or contracted, as desired. The sack bags together and guiding them to or through or bag is freed from the control of the holder the sewing-machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged by pressing the outer portion 12 toward the vertical section of a modification of the sack inner portion 12, which releases the sack or or bag holder. bag and allows it to drop. 40 In the drawings, 5 represents a fixed stand- Normally the sack or bag holder is mainard for supporting the rotatable sackoarrier tained in the expanded position shown at the 6. The top of the standard is provided with right of Fig. 3 by means of an arm 13, carrya socket 7, in which is located a shaft 8, fixing an adjustable weight 14. The outer end edly secured by means of a set-screw 9. Loof the arm 15 is bifurcated, as shown at 13, 45 cated upon the shaft 8 is a vertically-adjustin connection with the arm 11 in the plan able collar 10. The sack-carrierd is provided view, Fig. 1, and the bifurcated ends of the l with radial arms 11. Eight of such arms 11" arm are rigidly secured to the sides of and to 11", inclusive, are shown in the plan view, carried around the end of the outer part l2 Fig. l. Manifestly there may be a greater or to form a striking-plate 12. The inner end of the arm 13 is located and moves between the sides of the strap 15, which depends from a radial arm of the sack-carrier. tom of the strap and carried by it is a cushion 16, of rubber or other resilient material, upon which the arm 13 strikes when it reaches its lowest position.

In place of using a weighted arm, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, for extending or throwing out the outer part 12 or expanding the mouth of the sack or bag holder we may use a spring 17, as shown in Fig. 6. The spring 17 is fixedly attached by one end to the upper part of'the inner part 12 and bears by its free lower end upon the lower end of the outer part 12.

Mounted on one side of a suitable framework, which may be of wood or iron and of any suitable shape, is a table 18. This table is located where the sacks or bags to be filled are affixed to the successive sack or bag holders 12, and on the opposite side of the framework at the location where the filled sacks are delivered from the sack or bag holders is a corresponding table 19. Located upon the table 19 is a vertical standard 20, on the top of which is secured, through a setscrew, a radially-adjustable arm 21, on the inner end of which is a friction-roller 22.

The arm 21 projects within the circular path of movement of the sack or bag holders and is adapted to cooperate with the outer part 12 of the sack or bag holders to automatically push the part 12 inward and automatically release the sacks or bags when the successive holders 12 are brought by the rotation of the carrier in contact with the friction-roller on the end of the arm 21.

Arranged in suitable hearings in the end frames of the machine is a horizontal longitudinal shaft 23, which receives its motion from a power-belt 24. This shaft carries the worm 25, which meshes with the worm-gear 26, arranged upon a horizontal transverse shaft 27, which has its hearings in the side frames of the machine. 28 is asecond transverse horizontal shaft located at a distance from the shaft 27 and which also has its bearings in the side frames of the machine.

Arranged over pulleys 29 on the shafts 27 and 28 is an endless conveyor-belt 30. The pulleys 29 we prefer to give plain faces. They, however, may have concave faces, as indicated by dotted lines 29, Fig. 3. The object of providing the pulleys with concave faces is to give to the conveyer-belt a trough-like shape, which will aid it in maintaining the sacks in an upright position when they are dropped upon it.

Located under one of the radial arms 11 in the path of circular movement of the sackholders is a device for shaking or agitating the filled sacks or bags when they are located over it for the purpose of settling the contents of the sacks or bags. This device or shaker consists of an arm 31, pivoted to a standard 32 on the supporting-frame. At

In the botthe front end of the arm 31 is a horizontal perforated plate 33, and at the rear end of the arm is an adjustable weighted block 34, which is located over a toothed cam-wheel 35. The cam-wheel is mounted on the shaft 27 and receives its motion from such shaft. Vertical reciprocation is imparted to the arm 31 by the toothed cam wheel, the horizontal plate on the front end of the arm descending slowly as the weighted block is lifted by a tooth of the cam wheel and then rising quickly, thus being brought in contact with the bottom of the sack suspended from the sack or bag holder as the weighted arm drops from a tooth.

The conveyor-belt forms the bottom of a trough having the vertical fixed sides 30 and 37. Upon the inner surface of the vertical side 37 is a fixed spring 38, which is bent inward and has a round forward end which serves to prevent the dropped sack or bag from tipping backward when released from the sack or bag holder.

Located in front of that portion of the machine where the sacks or bags are affixed, filled, and discharged is the mechanism for closing1l. 6., sewing the tops of the sacks or bags. The device employed consists of a sewing-machine 39, of any suitable construction, preferably one in which the needle has a horizontal movement across the longitudinal path of movement of the sack or bag through the machine.

The sewing-machine we prefer to be thrown into and out of operation by means of a clutch 41 under the control of the operator by means of a treadle 42. As this clutch mechanism presents no feature of novelty over any ordinary clutch mechanism used for throwinga sewing-machine into or out of operation, we give no detailed description of the particular mechanism employed.

Located in front of the sewing-machine is a thread-cutter 4.3, which consists of a horizontal arm 14, having a knife-blade on its inner end and which coacts in cutting the thread with a plate 16, fastened to the frame of the sewing-machine. The horizontal arm at): is actuated by means of a lever 17, chain 48, and treadle 49 under control of the operator.

Located under the sewing-machine and with its rear end close to, but not in contact with, the conveyer-belt is a second horizontallymoving conveyor-belt 50. This belt is carried on the pulleys 51, mounted on the transverse shafts 52 53. Motion is communicated to the conveyer-belt 50, pulleys 51, and shafts 52 53 by means of the worn'i-gear 5 1, which meshes with the worm 55 on the shaft 56, which has its bearings in the end frames of the machine and receives its motion from a power-belt 57 through shaft 58 and power-belt 59. The conveyer-belt 50, like to conveyerbelt 30, forms the bottom of a trough, of which the rod-like extensions of the sides 36 37 form the sides.

It will be observed from the arrangement of parts described that the conveyer-belt 50 only moves when the sewing-machine is in operation. The arrangement of conveyor-belts 30 and 50 shown in Fig. 1 is that which we prefer to use. A single continuous belt may be used.

In order to add to the automatic features of the machine, we may employ in connection with the conveyerbelt 50 the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 for closing the mouth of the sacks or bags and conveying them with mouths closed to or through the sewing-machine. To accomplish the results stated, we employ a pair of presser-belts 60 and 6l, mounted so as to travel in line horizontally with the sewing mechanism of the machine and adapted to grip and through their vertical and opposed faces to hold the closed mouth of the sack or bag between their adjoining parallel runs. The belt 60, which is endless, is carried over the pulley 62 mounted on the vertical shaft 63, which is driven by a belt 64 from a pulley on the main shaft of the sewing-machine. The belt 61 is driven by frictional contact with the mouth of the sack, and the speed of the belts 60 and 61 is so arranged that they travel at the same rate as the feed of the sewing-machine, so as to produce stitches of the desired length for sewing together the mouth of the filled sack. If desired, the belts 60 and 61 may be made longer and located above the needle of the sewing-machine, in which case they will act in conjunction with the conveyer-belt 50 and carry the sack or bag through the sewing-machine.

66 represents the Weighing and delivering apparatus. This apparatus may be either antomatic in action or under the control of an operator, as desired. We give no extended description of it, as it is well known and forms no part of our invention.

67 represents a delivery-chute from the apparatus to the packing room, through which the filled sacks or bags pass after leaving the sewing-machine.

The operation of our improved device is as follows: An operator stationed at the affixingtable, with one of the radial armsfor instance, 1l--in the position shownt'. 8., the affixing poition pushes inward by hand the outer part 12 of the sack or bag holder. When the mouth of the sack-holder is contracted, the attendant slips the sack over the flanges 12 and adjusts the sack or bag on the holder. The attendant then rotates the carrier to the right, as indicated bythe arrow, which motion brings the next arm, 11 of the carrier into the affixing position. A second sack is then adjusted and the operator again moves the carrier to the right. This brings the third arm, 11, over the aiiixing-table and the first arm, 11, under the weighing and delivering apparatus (iii-i. e.,in the filling position. The material is delivered from the weighing and delivering apparatus into the sack or bag automatically or controlled by a lever operated by a second attendant. When the carrier is again rotated, the arm 11 and sack or bag thereon are brought over the shaker-plate, where the contents of the sack or bag, owing to the reciprocation of the shaker, are agitated and settled in the sack or bag. hen the carrier is again rotated, the sack-holder on the end of the arm 11 is brought into contact with the trip-arm lli. e., at the delivery position-and as the arm 21 is in the path of movement of the sack-holders the outer pivoted end 12 of the sack-holder is pushed in- Ward and the sack is released and drops upon the conveyer-belt 30 and is moved forward toward the second conveyer-belt 50 and the sewing apparatus at the front of the machine. The sack or bag is prevented from tipping over sidewise or backward by the side frames 36 and 37 and the spring 38. When the sack or bag reaches the end of the conveyer-belt 30, it is picked up by an operator-either the second or thirdand placed upon the second conveyer-belt 50 and carried forward to the sewing-machine. As the sack or bag reaches the sewing-machine an operator stationed at this point seizes the top of the sack or bag and draws its edges upward and in the longitudinal axis of the con veyer-belt and by hand passes the closed edges of the sack or bag through the sewing-machine, which firmly stitches the edges together.

here the top closing and guiding apparatusillustratedinFig.5isempl0yed,an operator introduces the top of the sack or bag between the moving belts (50 G1, which moving at the same speed as the conveyor-belt 5U carry the sack or bag to the attendant at the sewingmachine with the mouth of the sack or bag closed, or if the belts 60 and 61 are arranged above the needle of the sewing-machine carry the sack or bag through the sewing-machine. When the sack or bag has passed the sewingmachine, the treadle 49 is depressed, which actuates the cutter and severs the thread from the sewing-machine, after which the sack or bag is discharged through the chute 67 to the packing-room.

The sewing apparatus may be thrown into operation as each sack or bag comes into position to have its top sewed and thrown out of operation as the sack or bag passes the machine, or the sewing-machine may be 0perated continuously, in which case the cutter may be arranged to act automatically as the sacks or bags pass the sewing-machine.

It will be understood from the above description that each sack or bag passes successively from the atlixing to the filling position, thence. to the shaking position, thence to the discharging position, and finally to the sack-sewing position.

In our improved apparatus the carrier is operated by hand, as such movementis sufficiently rapid for all practical purposes; but manifestly it could be operated by any suitable motor device arranged to give it a forward motion.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In a sack filling and closing machine,the combination of a movable sack-carrier with a series of sack-holders mounted thereon and each consisting of a funnel having apivoted portion or flap, and a weighted external arm for maintaining the same in an expanded position, substantially as specified.

2. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable sack-carrier provided with radial arms, asack'holder on each of said arms, each holder consisting of a portion fixed to an arm and a portion pivotally connected to the fixed portion to move about a horizontal axis, and a vertically-movable weight connected with said pivotal portion of the holder, substantially as specified.

3. In a sack filling and closing machine,the combination of a rotatable sack-carrierprovided with radial arms, a sack-holder on each of said arms and each sack-holder having a movable section, and a standard carrying a radially-adjustable arm with which the movable sections of the sack-holder successively coact and by which said sections are moved into operative positions, substantially as specified.

4. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable sack-carrier, and a series of sack-holders mounted on said carrier and each section consisting of a fixed section and a movable section pivotally connected to the fixed section, a weighing and delivering device adapted to deliver material to the sacks successively as the carrier is rotated, a trip-arm extending toward the path of movement of the sack-holders, and a roller mounted on said arm and adapted to engage with the pivotally-supported sections of the sack-holders successively to release the filled sacks from the carrier, substantially as specified.

5. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable sack-carrier, a series of contractible sack holders mounted thereon, a traveling conveyer located at one side of the rotatable sack-carrier and below the sack-holders, and means for contracting the sack-holders so as to drop a sack therefrom onto said conveyer, substantially as specified.

6. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, a series of tubular sackholders depending from said carrier and each adapted to engage with the open end of a sack, each holder consisting of a fixed section and a movable section pivotally connected at its upper end with the fixed section; a lug or striking-plate secured to the outer face of the pivoted section of each sackholder; a filling device arranged to successively fill sacks carried by said holders as the carrier rotates; and a relatively-stationary trip-arm extending into the path of the striking-plates on the pivoted sections of the sackholders and adapted to move said sections successively to disengage or release filled sacks from the holders, substantially as specified.

7. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier provided with radial arms carrying saclnholders, of a table in the sack-affixing position, a weighing and delivering apparatus in the filling position, a device for shaking the sacks after being filled, and adevice for automatically and successively releasing the filled sacks at a given position from the sack-holders, substantially as specified.

8. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, consisting of a series of radially-extending arms, a tubular sack-holder depending from each of said arms, each holder consisting of a section rigid with the arm and a section pivotally connected to said fixed section, a sack-affixing table over which the sack-holders are successively moved as the carrier rotates, a filling device arranged above and adapted to successively fill the sacks applied to the holders at the sack-affixing table, a trip for engaging with the pivoted sections of the sackholder and successively releasing the filled sacks, and an endless conveyer arranged to receive the sacks When released from the rotatable carrier, substantially as specified.

9. In a sack filling and closing machine, the combination of a rotatable carrier, a series of sack-holders mounted on said carrier, a sackaffixing table over which the sack-holders are successively moved as the carrier rotates, means for successively filling the sacks at tached to the holders after the sacks have passed the sack-affixing table, a shaking device adapted to contact with the lower end of the filled sacks while their holders are passing from the filling position to the releasing means, means for successively disengaging the filled sacks from the sack-holders after passing the shaking device, and an endless conveyer arranged to receive the filled sacks when released from the sack-holders substantially as specified.

10. In a sack filling and closing machine,the combination of a movable sack-carrier having thereon a series of holders from which the sacks can be suspended, a traveling belt onto which the filled sacks are delivered from the sack-holders, and a spring-retainer adapted to engage with the sack and prevent it from falling backward on the traveling conveyer, substantially as specified.

11. In asack filling and closing machine,the combination of a rotatable sack-carrier, aseries of holders supported by said carrier, a weighing and delivering apparatus whereby the successive sacks are filled, a conveyer onto which the filled sacks are delivered by the sack-holders, and a device located in the path of movement of the filled sacks on the conveyer which will sew the mouth of said sacks as they pass through said device, substantially as specified.

12. In a sack filling and closing machine, a

IIS

sack-holder comprising a fixed portion pro- Vided with a lower horizontal flange, a pivotal portion pivoted to the fixed portion and provided with a lower horizontal flange, a bar attached to the pivotal portion, and an adjustable Weight on said bar, substantially as specified.

13. In a sack fillingand closing machine,the combination of a sack-holder, consisting of a fixed section and an adjustable section pivotally connected to the fixed section; an arm extending laterally from said pivoted section; and a cushion arranged in the path of said arm to limit the extent of movement of the pivoted section in one direction, substantially as specified.

14. In a sack fillingand closing machine, a sack-holder consisting of a relatively-stationary section, a movable section pivotally con- ERNST WV. GERBRAOHT. JOHN R. OKELL.

Witnesses as to the signature of Ernst W. Gerbracht:

J. H. MGTAFFERT, JOSEPH S. MAGRATH. Witnesses as to the signature of John R. Okell:

Q. J. FINLAY, F. ALEXANDER. 

